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Tito Ortiz has a (risky) plan for Cris Cyborg

"I made so many mistakes with my career," Ortiz told MMAjunkie.com backstage at UFC 157. "I'm not going to make the same mistakes with my clients."

By clients he means Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, the former Strikeforce women's 145-pound champion who Ortiz represents as part of his foray into the world of fighter management. And by mistakes, he means signing a contract where there's "no future," which is what he claimed the UFC offered his fighter recently. So he turned it down. He opted to sign her to a three-fight deal in Invicta FC instead.

"The reason I thought it was a better idea is because it's called management," Ortiz declared.

"Our deal right now is to fight the No. 2 contender at 145 pounds (Ediane Gomes), who she's fighting, and then she'll fight for the [Invicta] world title," he said. "She wins the world title, and after she wins the title, she'll defend it once. After she defends it once, let's get New Year's Eve, Ronda Rousey vs. Cris 'Cyborg' at 140 pounds. Champ vs. champ. Let's forget about the title. Throw away the title. Let's get one of the biggest pay-per-views in the history of mixed martial arts and history of women's MMA."

See? It's simple. What could go wrong, except about a half-dozen different things.

It's genius if it works. If, by the end of 2013, Cyborg's chewed up three straight opponents in Invicta all while Rousey has dispatched one challenger after another in the UFC, he may well find himself in an excellent negotiating position.

When your financial future hinges on a plan that has zero room for unexpected developments, you're betting an awful lot on an unwavering belief that you know exactly what the future holds. Again, you look brilliant if you turn out to be right. If not, you look like something else entirely.

A fight in the future between Cyborg will gross more than a fight at present. It is only intelligent to get the maximal payment you can for your career defining fight. Can't fault Cyborg for moving to Invicta but you can fault her for her silly excuses (that she would die) for not taking the fight....

I dont see any brilliance in this plan even if events start unfolding as Tito is describing. While cyborg is rusting out in Invicta the UFC will be making new female stars to challenge for the 135 title. If the UFC ever bothers to entertain cyborg fighting in the octagon it wont be until they decide to have a 145 women's division. Dana is not going to do the 140lb catchweight fight unless he's desperate. Cyborg will have no drawing power left by the end of the year. She might as well get comfy in Invicta cause theres nowhere else she is desired.